On the second day of the Lunar New Year (January 30), many Hong Kong residents traveled to Shenzhen to shop, dine, go sightseeing, and visit relatives. Crowds packed cross-boundary buses near the Shenzhen Bay Port, with passengers heading to destinations such as Zhongshan and Guangzhou. Ticket prices for many routes increased by 20-30% compared to regular days.
Exploring Shenzhen for Food and Fun
At Shenzhen Metro Line 13, many Hong Kong families were spotted traveling across Shenzhen for leisure and shopping. Reporters at Luohu Port observed that Hong Kong residents were particularly drawn to the high-value, affordable local cuisine. For example, a staff member at the Cantonese restaurant "佳寧娜" in Luohu revealed that they served over 100 tables by midday on January 30, three times their usual amount, with nearly 80% of customers being from Hong Kong.
At "袁記水餃" in Luohu Commercial City, Mr. Yim, a young Hong Kong resident, praised the quality of the dumplings, commenting, "The dumplings here are handmade and taste great. A bowl costs just over RMB 30, which is 20-30% cheaper than in Hong Kong."
Due to global inflation in recent years, Hong Kong residents have increasingly traveled to Shenzhen for its high-value dining and attractions. This Lunar New Year, families took advantage of the holiday to enjoy Shenzhen's culinary delights and scenic spots with their children and parents.
Crowded Restaurants and Rising Prices
At the Hong Kong-owned Cantonese restaurant "佳寧娜" near Luohu Port, the dining hall was packed with customers on January 30. Hong Kong resident Ms. Wong said, "My hometown is Chaozhou, so I love Chaozhou cuisine. Visiting Shenzhen with my family feels great because the prices are cheaper here, and there's a variety of delicious options. For example, we spent just over RMB 300 after discounts for dim sum, shrimp dumplings, and desserts, which would cost nearly double in Hong Kong."
A staff member at the restaurant noted that on regular days, they serve about 30 tables. Still, during the Lunar New Year, they exceeded 100 tables, with the majority being Hong Kong residents. Private dining rooms, however, were pricier, with a minimum charge of RMB 1,500, and some dishes, such as braised abalone with morel mushrooms (RMB 238) and Chaozhou lo sui platter (nearly RMB 200), brought the total bill for families to around RMB 2,000.
The teppanyaki restaurant "大漁鐵板燒" located downstairs also attracted a large number of Hong Kong diners, making up 70-80% of the clientele. During the holiday, the price per person increased by RMB 30 to RMB 248. Despite the higher prices, the restaurant was bustling with customers enjoying sushi platters, eel sushi, and matsutake soup. Using delivery robots to serve food added a fun and modern touch to the dining experience.
Affordable Dumplings and Metro Convenience
At Luohu Commercial City, "袁記水餃" has become a popular spot since opening last year. Mr. Yim, enjoying shrimp dumplings, said, "The dumplings here are handmade and delicious. At RMB 32, they are about 20% cheaper than in Hong Kong." He also tried the winter mushroom and water chestnut wontons, spending just over RMB 50 in total. "It's both tasty and affordable," he added.
The opening of Shenzhen Metro Line 13 at Shenzhen Bay Port late last year has made it easier for Hong Kong residents to travel to different parts of Shenzhen for leisure and shopping. Many families were seen queuing for the metro. One Hong Kong couple with two daughters planned to visit Futian for sightseeing and dining, stating, "Our ancestral hometown is Shunde, so we're taking the kids to try Shunde's famous steamed dishes."
Cross-boundary Bus Travel and Popular Destinations
At the Shenzhen Bay Port bus terminal, cross-boundary buses bound for Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Shunde, and Kaiping were packed with Hong Kong passengers. Among these, the Zhongshan route was the most popular. Ms. Lo, a Hong Kong resident, shared that she and her husband were heading to Zhongshan for a two-night trip, adding, "We haven't planned much yet, but we'll use AI platforms like DeepSeek to organize our itinerary. It's so advanced and user-friendly."
A representative from China Travel Service, which operates the Zhongshan line, said that over 30 buses were deployed for this route alone. Ticket prices rose to RMB 60, a 20% increase compared to regular days. Zhongshan has become a favorite destination for Hong Kong residents due to its attractions, food, and convenience, such as the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge, which shortens travel time.
However, ticket prices for the Guangdong-Hong Kong cross-boundary bus to Zhongshan were slightly higher at RMB 70, resulting in fewer passengers than China Travel Service. Meanwhile, the bus fare to Kaiping increased to RMB 140, up by RMB 30 from regular days.
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